Undergarment



Aug. 16,1927.

T. E. CUNNINGHAM ET AL UNDERGARMENT Filed sept. 27, 1926 zafra@ Patented Aug. 16, 1927.

UNITED.,s'rafr'ask PATENT OFFICE,

THOMAS E. CUNNINGHAM AND OWEN E. CUNNINGHAM, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

UNDEBGARMENT.

Application led September 27, 1926. Serial No. 187,967.

Our invention relates to undergarments of the one-piece type and has for its object to improve the same, as will hereinafter appear.

It is well known that one-piece garments, particularly for personsthat do heavy work and perspire freely, are not entirely satisfactory for the reason that they tear in the back at the waist, and work up on the back of the wearer, and also twist around his legs and itis often diicult to release the same.

The embodiment of our invention in a one piece undergarment overcomes the above objection, materially reinforces the garment, and hence increases the life thereof and makes the same comfortable to wear.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a back view of a one-piece undergarment having the invention embodied therein;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front view of the upper portion of said garment;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the garment showing one of the reinforcing strips with the tabs thereof turned out; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the elastic links.

The numeral 5 indicates a one-piece undergarment having set into its back, at the waist thereof, a belt-like section 6 that is expansible longitudinally of said garment. Said section 6 is preferably formed from a piece of cloth woven to stretch in one direction, under strain, and then return to its normal or contracted condition when the strain is removed. This garment is of awell known commercial make.

Referring now in detail to the invention,

the numeral 7 indicates a pair of longitudi- Y nally extended reinforcing strips stitched to the back of the garment 5. These reinforcing strips 7 extend over the shoulders ofthe garment 5 midway between the neck opening and arm holes and part way down the front Y of the garment. Said reinforcing strips 7 yalso extend downward over the seat of the garment at substantially the transverse center of the back of the legs thereof. A gap 8 is formed in each reinforcing strip 7 at the expansible garment section 6. The reinforcof which is provided with a button hole l0.

These tabs 9 extend toward the gaps 8 and lay flat on said reinforcing strips. The tabs 9 at each gap 8 are connected by an elastic link 11, which spans the garment section 6, and is provided at its end portions with a pair of buttons l2. The end portions of the links 11 are inserted under the tabs 9 and their buttons l2 are inserted through the respective button holes l0 from the backs of said tabs. The elastic links 11 lay smooth across the garment section 6, and which links and garment section expand together under strain and of course will contract together when the strain is moved therefrom.

The iap 13 at the back of the garment 5 is held closed by a button 14 on the lower end portion of the right-hand reinforcing strip.

The reinforcing strips 7 extend substan` tially the full length of the back of the garment 5 which has direct contact with the body of the wearer and reinforces the same. Furthermore, by extending the reinforcing strips 7 over the shoulders of the garment 5 the pull on the garment is taken directly on the shoulder of the wearer. All strain at the garment section 6 is taken by the elastic links 11 and in case the garment 5 sticks to the back of the wearer, when he stoops over, the elastic links 11 will give and be placed under tension and as soon as he stands erect, said links will draw the garment down on the back of the wearer. and prevent the same from sticking and getting out of position. The elastic links 11, acting through the lower portions of the reinforcing strips 7, will keep the leg portions of the garment 7 in position and prevent the same from twisting on the legs of the wearer.

The reinforcing strips 7 may be made from the same material as the garment 5 or they may be made from webbing or any other suitable material.

What we claim is:

1. A one-piece undergarment having in its back an extensible section, two longitudinally extended reinforcing strips attached to the back of the garment and having gaps at said section, said reinforcing strips being folded to form tabs above and below said section, and elastic links, said tabs having button holes and said links having buttons tensible section and having a gap at said seeinsertecl through said button holes for attion, and an elastic link connecting the ends 10 ta'ching the links to the tabs. of the non-elastic reinforcing strip at the gap 2. A one-piece unclergarrnent having in its therein;

5 back an extensible section, alongitudinally ntestimony whereof We ai'x our signaextended non-elastic reinforcing strip attures. @elise/,fl te the the; garment. GUNMNQIIAM.; tending materially above and below the eX- OVEN E. CUNNINGHAM. 

